Sir, – After all that has been said and written, David Norris still appeals to a vast number of the Irish electorate. For this reason alone, Independent TDs and Senators or Fianna Fáil have a responsibility to ensure his name appears on the ballot paper on October 27th. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – After all that has occurred it is mind-boggling to imagine that Senator David Norris is again considering a run for the presidency. It is surely confirmation of an extraordinary lack of judgment on his part. He cannot escape the fact that he wrote a letter to an Israeli court appealing for clemency for a man who was convicted of the statutory rape of a 15-year-old boy. When withdrawing from the presidential race, he admitted that the fallout of Ezra Nawi’s disgraceful behaviour had spread to him and was in danger of “contaminating” others close to him, both in his political and personal life. Mr Norris has contributed much to our nation through his intellect and character but this “contamination” of which he has spoken should not be allowed to spread to the presidency. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Any candidate for the presidency is either an internal party candidate or an Independent candidate. Fianna Fáil has already decided not to run an internal party candidate. Even if we were to accept Labhrás Ó Murchú as an Independent candidate, which is an absolute nonsense given that he is a Fianna Fáil Senator, the party has already instructed its parliamentary party not to support the nomination of any Independent candidate. For Fianna Fáil TDs or Senators to, despite this, support Mr Ó Murchú’s nomination would make Brian Crowley and his supporters livid and do great damage to Fianna Fáil. It is never a good idea for a party to look ridiculous. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Miriam Lord (Dáil Sketch, September 16th) notes presidential hopeful Labhrás Ó Murchú has been a “a Fianna Fáil Senator for donkey’s years” and later adds that his leader sent him away “with a flea in his ear”. Is this, perhaps, her unconscious recollection of the refrain “Labhrás the King has donkey’s ears” from the old tale of the king who was obliged to execute a series of barbers to protect his aural secret? That said, is Fianna Fáil in for another haircut? – Yours, etc,